World Traditional Medicine Reference Board

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Title [Asia] Vietnam Dong Medicine

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Admin

Date

2014-12-30 14:10:33

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Traditional Vietnamese Medicine lays great emphasis on harmony of human with nature like other traditional medicines, and considered human as a compositive being combined with body, soul, and happiness from physical, mental, social, ethical and spiritual aspect.
Traditional medicine of East Asia including Chinese Medicine, Indian Medicine, Arabic Medicine, and Greek Medicine from Europe flowed in many countries via Central Asia. Such an influx kept influencing Japan, Manchuria, Tibet, Mongo, and Korea as well.

Traditional Vietnamese Medicine had been greatly influenced by Central Asia and China until Western Medicine was introduced in early 19th century. Geographically Vietnam runs from north to south on the southward of the Tropic of Cancer. It has lots of differences from mainland China in terms of climate, ethnicity, and animals and plants as well. Vietnam has been importing various medicinal herbs from China, and China also has been importing various tropical herbs from Vietnam. Traditional Vietnam Medicine lays great emphasis on harmony of human with nature like other traditional medicines, and considered human as a compositive being combined with body, soul, and happiness from physical, mental, social, ethical and spiritual aspect.

The first book related to traditional Vietnamese Medicine was 『Bonchojeongyo』 written by Phan Phu Tiên in 1429. Buddhist monk, Hyejeong, is considered the first medical professional with creative insight in Vietnam, who had studied for a long time in China. He had a deep knowledge of herbal medicine, and wrote a book of galenical pharmacy. Though the original version disappeared, some of its contents can be found in 『Honguigakseonguiseo』 and 『Namyaksinhyo』 published in 1717, which introduced lots of native herbal plants originated from Vietnam. In addition, the book is written in folk language along with Chinese language, just like 『Hyangyak jipseong bang』 of Joseon.

Currently traditional Vietnamese medical professionals are practicing mostly in local area as a part of Vietnamese health care system. Most of the training or refresher training is conducted by higher educational institutes or universities. About 500 kinds of herbal plants are being in use for the traditional medicine. About 100 among them are cultivated extensively to be used in various types of medication such as sugar-coated pills, syrups, and extracts. Wide variety of treatment strategies including acupuncture, massage, and decoction are being provided in internal medicine, surgery, gynecology and dermatology part of local clinics.

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